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Teen Walking on CR540A Killed, Driver is Charged

Sheriff's deputies said a 29-year-old driver has been arrested.

Polk County Sheriff's Officials said this is the truck that hit and fatally injured 16-year-old Blake Dowdy early Sunday.
(PROVIDED TO THE LEDGER)

By ELVIA MALAGONTHE LEDGER

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 4:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 4:34 p.m.

LAKELAND | A 16-year-old boy walking along County Road 540A was struck and killed early Sunday, and the driver of the vehicle was arrested on charges of failing to stop at a crash and driving under the influence involving a death, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Blake A. Dowdy of 1100 Oakbridge Parkway in Lakeland died at the scene of the crash about 1:40 a.m., deputies said.

Christopher Koenig, 29, of Lakeland, was arrested after he made a 911 call and told an operator he had hit someone who was in the middle of County Road 540A near Hallam Preserve Boulevard as he was driving home from a bar in Lakeland, deputies said.

Dowdy was walking with a friend west on the southern shoulder of the road as Koenig was driving a 2012 Ford F-150 east in the outside lane, according to an arrest affidavit. Dowdy was walking near the edge of the pavement as his friend walked on the grass shoulder.

The friend told deputies he heard a loud noise and saw a vehicle driving away.

He found Dowdy in a ditch south of County Road 540A about 87 feet from where they were walking before the crash happened, according to the affidavit.

Koenig made the 911 call about 40 minutes after the crash and said it was an accident.

"I was with my cousin. We were on our way home," he said in the 911 call. "I hit the gentleman in the road and I came home and I just had to call. I'm the person that hit him."

In a 911 call released by Sheriff's Office, Koenig said he had a few drinks at the Paddy Wagon Irish Pub in Lakeland before the crash happened.

He was arrested and charged with failing to stop at a crash and driving under the influence involving a death. Deputies took a blood sample from Koenig that will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's lab for analysis.

Koenig remained in the Polk County Jail on Sunday evening without bail, according to jail records.

According to Facebook posts, Dowdy attended the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, which is part of Kathleen High School. Academy officials could not be reached Sunday to confirm the information.

Jessie Seaman wrote on the Polk County Sheriff's Office Facebook page that she was friends with Dowdy.

"He brought happiness to our small school," she wrote. "He made our day a little brighter."

[ Elvia Malagon can be reached at elvia.malagon@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. Her Twitter is @ledger911. ]

<p>LAKELAND | A 16-year-old boy walking along County Road 540A was struck and killed early Sunday, and the driver of the vehicle was arrested on charges of failing to stop at a crash and driving under the influence involving a death, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>Blake A. Dowdy of 1100 Oakbridge Parkway in Lakeland died at the scene of the crash about 1:40 a.m., deputies said.</p><p>Christopher Koenig, 29, of Lakeland, was arrested after he made a 911 call and told an operator he had hit someone who was in the middle of County Road 540A near Hallam Preserve Boulevard as he was driving home from a bar in Lakeland, deputies said.</p><p>Dowdy was walking with a friend west on the southern shoulder of the road as Koenig was driving a 2012 Ford F-150 east in the outside lane, according to an arrest affidavit. Dowdy was walking near the edge of the pavement as his friend walked on the grass shoulder.</p><p>The friend told deputies he heard a loud noise and saw a vehicle driving away.</p><p>He found Dowdy in a ditch south of County Road 540A about 87 feet from where they were walking before the crash happened, according to the affidavit.</p><p>Koenig made the 911 call about 40 minutes after the crash and said it was an accident. </p><p>"I was with my cousin. We were on our way home," he said in the 911 call. "I hit the gentleman in the road and I came home and I just had to call. I'm the person that hit him."</p><p>In a 911 call released by Sheriff's Office, Koenig said he had a few drinks at the Paddy Wagon Irish Pub in Lakeland before the crash happened.</p><p>He was arrested and charged with failing to stop at a crash and driving under the influence involving a death. Deputies took a blood sample from Koenig that will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's lab for analysis.</p><p>Koenig remained in the Polk County Jail on Sunday evening without bail, according to jail records.</p><p>According to Facebook posts, Dowdy attended the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, which is part of Kathleen High School. Academy officials could not be reached Sunday to confirm the information.</p><p>Jessie Seaman wrote on the Polk County Sheriff's Office Facebook page that she was friends with Dowdy. </p><p>"He brought happiness to our small school," she wrote. "He made our day a little brighter."</p><p>[ Elvia Malagon can be reached at elvia.malagon@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. Her Twitter is @ledger911. ]</p>